THE 

RETURNING of ROSAUA 

A PLAY 

for Camp Fire Girh 

BY 

MARGARET L. FOX 




PUBLISHED BY 

THE CAMP FIRE OUTFITTING CO. 

NEW YORK CITY 



THE 

RETURNING OF ROSALIA 

A PLAY 

for Camp Fire Girls 

BY 

MARGARET L. FOX 




"**^5> 



PUBLISHED BY 

THE CAMP FIRE OUTFITTING CO. 

NEW YORK CITY 









COPYRIGHT 1920 
lY THE CAMP FIRE OUTFITTING CO. 



©CI.D 543 L2 

TMP92-008869 

APR 17bcU 



THE RETURNING OF ROSALIA 

A PLAY IN THREE ACTS FOR CAMP FIRE GIRLS 

By 

Margaret L. Fox 
THE RETURNING OF ROSALIA 

Characters 

MINA — A lialf-erazy gypsy. 

NITA — A young gypsy from tlie same tribe. 

ROSALIA— A child stolen by the tribe fourteen years be- 
fore, and still believing herself a gypsy. 

MRS. ROBSON (ONEIDA)— Guardian of Kitadini Camp 
Fire. 

MARGARITA — Her daughter, a bright spoiled child of ten 
years. 

MARIA STONE — Mrs. Robson's maiden sister, crabbed and 
sour. 

VIVIAN PRICE- 
VIOLA martin- 
Two girls who are the leading members in Kitadini 
Camp Fire. 

Girls of the Camp Fire 
JEANETTE— The girl who knows a story. 
BBSS — The girl who stutters when excited. 
RACHAEL— The slangy girl. 
I'AULINE- The girl who is afraid of bugs. 
HELI^N — The girl who is romantic. 

PERSIS — The girl whose "big brother" causes many heart- 
aches. 
SUSAN- 
BETTY— 
ELEANOR— 

Just girls. (These three parts easily omitted.) 
3 



THE RETURNING OF ROSALIA 

Act I. 

Time — Late Afternoon. 

Place — Clearing in the woods, near the town of Button, 

N. H. 

SCENE — Woods, etc. One large fallen log, at lyack. One 
stump or pile of logs at each side. Two entrances R and L. 

Enter Rosalia and Nita, dressed in gypsy costumes. Shoes 

are dusty and they look warm and tired. Seat themselves 

on log, at rear of stage. 

NITA— Rosalia, I am frightened. I have never before felt 
like this. It is all so mysterious and awful. Mina 
talking so queer and stealing away from the tribe in 
the middle of the night. They will find us, Rosalia, 
how can they help it. We could only have come a little, 
little way, Mina was so sick. 

ROSALIA — I am not afraid. {Stands and draws herself 
up proudly.) I am thrilled. I am going to die for 
Mina, if Rod comes. If they catch us and Rod threat- 
ens to kill Mina, I will throw myself between and say 
{passionately) "Kill me, but spare your old Granny." 

NITA {contemptuously) — Poof! I don't believe you. You 
are really just as much scared as I am or will be when 
they get here. You have been reading too much of that 
King Arthur stuff. Listen, Rosalia, when Rod finds us, 
he will uncurl that long horsewhip of his and Mina will 
dance and I will dance, and maybe you will dance, too, 
for although he has never let you feel it, he will this 
time, for he will be mad, mad MAD {stamps foot). 
One of the horses sick and Granny lights out with his 
two best little money-makers. 

Granny is crazy, that is the truth, Rosalia. She is as 
crazy as those little bugs we watched in the pool 
back there, darting here and there, and not knowing 
where they are trying to go. Believe me, we were 
foolish to trust her and come away with her. 

ROSALIA {seats herself on long) — Sometimes I think that 
Mina is not as crazy as we think. I know she is trying 
hard to accomplish some mission in this town. Some- 
4 



times I think it concerns me and then I would do any- 
thing to help her. It is queer that in all the gypsies 
we have met on the road, I never see a girl with hair 
like mine (picks up her golden curl). I hate it! Why 
do the men shrug their shoulders and wink and the 
women shake theirs head and seem sorry for me. There 
is something strange about me. When we danced in 
that town, a few days ago, almost the first time Rod 
has let me show myself in a large town, a man in the 
crowd said, "That girl is no gypsy." Granny knows 
and I am going to know soon, if only Rod doesn't find 
us first. If he does, I don't care much what happens. 
I am sick of it all. The moving from place to place 
(walks ahout excitedly) . No chance to learn anything. 
I want to learn and read and really be somebody. Last 
year, our tutor taught us a lot when we settled down 
in Tilton for the winter. Oh, if I have to go back to 
the caravan, I hope I die (soMing widhj) or Rod kills 
me, I don't care which. (Throivs herself on ground.) 
I am so wretched. 
NITA (standing over her, unth clenched fists) — I will never 
leave you, Rosalia. If you go the long, long road I will 
be close behind. I swore fealty to you in our gypsy 
fashion, years ago, and a gypsy never goes back on 
that oath. (With quick change of manner) I know, 
now, you are not a gypsy. A gypsy never cries and acts 
the way you do (p7'ods her with her foot). Get up! 
I am ashamed of you. (Takes her l)y the arm, and 
pulls her to her feet.) Quick, here comes Mina. Hide 
behind the trees and watch her. 

(Hide behind the scene, at right.) 
Enter Mina, at left, old and bent, with loose hanging hair 

and wild manner. 
MINA — Ah, the bebes have gone far — hope not too far — 
(limps about, peering into the icoods.) How Mina wish 
for strong body now. Head all buzzy, legs feeble — 
(limps to log, and painfully seats herself with groans 
and mutterings). Now, let me think — (passes hand 
over forehead) What is it I try to do? Where am I? — 
First, we are near, yes, w^ithin a mile maybe of Button. 
5 



Dutton, that was the place, I know (excitedly). Then, 
I have bebe with me, yes, she must be right near, some- 
wheres. (Shakes head, sadly) If I only knew lady's 
name. Never did know that. Maybe she dead now. 
If only Rod doesn't come till I find somethin' (jnses). 
What is I want to find? I not know (wildly). Now, 
my head bad again, I can't see (passes hand over eyes). 
Soon, soon they will come! Rod will put me in crazy 
house; he say so, last time I try to escape. Oh! 
(screaming) Help! I won't go. I bite, I kick. Nita ! 
(calling) Nita! Ros ! little Ros ! 

Girls run in and Rosalia puts arms ahout Mina. 

ROSALIA — Hush ! You are all right, Mina. Rod can never 
find us. See how cunningly the tent is hid (points out 
left). You can pass right along the path and not see it! 
Nita and I will be very careful. We will not go out 
of your sight. Calm down, Mina, dear, no harm shall 
come to you, for I will kill Rod first. 

NITA (walks to front of stage, aside) — Both of 'em just 
plain nuts, first Granny and now Rosalia. (Alimics) 
I will kill Rod first. Guess so, six foot two and a 
whale. Suppose she will throttle him with her two 
hands. (To Rosalia) Come on Rosalia. Granny is all 
right, except in her upper story. Take her to the tent 
and we will go hunt a spring and get some grub. What 
do you say? 

ROSALIA (to Mina, gently leading her to left entrance) — 
Are you feeling better now, Mina. Lean on me. We 
will go back to the tent and I would just lie still and 
try not to think. May be the good spirit will send some- 
one to help you on your mission. Are you all right 
now? 

NINEA (fechly cryingq — I so weak, so weak. My head ache 
so. 

Rosalia and Mina exit left. 

NITA (passionately) — ^She is an angel! She is no gypsy. 

How I wish I could do for Granny, the way she does. 

Granny is a good old scout, but I am a little devil. I 

know that, for Rod says so; still I want to help and 

6 



I'll stick by Rosalia forever and ever. 
Exit Nita left. 

Enter from right, Viola, Vivian and all the Camp Fire girls, 
in ceremonial dresses. 

VIOLA — Gee, what a great place for a council fire. 

VIVIAN — Yes, I wish we had seen this first, but then today 
we were scheduled for the mountain. Great place, isn't 
it, girls? 

Chorus of '''Swell, Peachy, Great," etc. (Hrls look 
about. 

VIOLA — Let's rest awhile. We've got lots of time. 

VIVIAN — Yes, come on, girls, let's sit down. 

{All seat themselves, about on logs and ground.) 

JEANETTE {who always knows a story) — Yes, come on, 
girls and I'll tell you a story. 
{Fearful groaning) 

JEANETTE {innocently) — Don't you you want to hear 
about it? I went to the movies last night. It was a 
love story, "Under the Greenwood Tree," and Elsie Fer- 
guson was the girl, and — 

VIVIAN — Forget it, Jeanette. We all went. Didn't we? 
It was mush, simply mush, and I must say I am sur- 
prised when I look around at the movies and see so 
many members of Kitadini Camp Fire, there. 

PERSIS {who has a "Mg brother") — That is just what my 
big brother says. 

VIOLA {holding up her hand) — Listen, girls, the oracle is 
about to make known his convictions. 

RACHAEL {the slangy girl) — I should worry about that 
boob. 

HELEN {who is fond of Ralph, the "big brother") — I think 
you girls are horrid to talk about Ralph Pousland that 
way. He is a dear. I don't blame Persis for talking 
about him. I wish he wav? my brother. 
{General laughter) 

JEANETTE {sarcastically) — Yes, you do. You make me 
think of a girl in a story I read the other day. She 
was just like that, telling all the boys she wished she 
was their sister and • 

PAULINE {screaming and jumping to her feet) — Oh! A 

7 . 



miserable horrid bug. I am not going to sit on tbe 
ground another minute. Come and kill him, someone. 
There he goes right on Rachael's shoulder (screams). 
Come and get him off Raehael. He will bite her. I 
know he will. 

RAOHAEL (cooly hrushing him off) — You make me sick. 
Let that darned old daddy long-legs go. I should worry 
about him. 

BESS (who stutters) — I j-j-j-ust wish Mrs. Robson was 
here t-t-t-o hear you s-s-s-ay that s-s-s-illy s-s-lang. 

VIOLA — No use talking, girls, we have got to stop it, and 
make Raehael quit, too. It is like the flu, just plain catch- 
ing. Oneida is the best Guardian in the world. She 
asked us the other day not to be so careless about our 
language. I am going to try, but gee, it's the limit. 
{All laugh) 

VIVIAN — Do you know I think Oneida looks dreadfully. 
I went to her house today, because I thought she was 
going to hike with the rest of us and I went in, as she 
always tells us to do. There was Margarita with her 
arms around her mother begging her not to cry and 
Aunt Maria stood like an image in the doorway and 
she said to me, "Well, of all the nerve, I ever heard 
tell of. Walking right into folks' houses without even 
ringing the door bell. If those are Camp Fire manners, 

confound me !" I felt awfully cheap and sorry, but 
Oneida came right out into the hall and put her arms 
around me and said, "That is alj right, little Viv. 
Don't mind, Maria. We are all a little sad and dis- 
turbed today. I feel very weak and miserable, but 
will try to go to the mountain to Council Fire, but 
will have to go in the machine. Tell the girls to for- 
give me if I am a little late." I, had such a lump in my 
throat I couldn't say I was sorry or anything. I just 
kissed her and came away. 

BETTY — ^No need to tell our Guardian anything. 

SUSAN — ^She seems really clairvoyant, sometimes. 

ELEANOR — I know it. She knows everything we do, good 
and bad, and. always praises the good and excuses 
the bad. 

. 8 



SUSAN — Sometimes, I think she really dreams things. 

JEANETTE — I know something, no one else here knows. I 
know all about — 

BESS {pounces on her, and holds her down) — No more 
s-s-stories, Jeanette, about m-m-m-ovies, m-m-magazines 
or anything. 

JEANETTE (struggling) — Girls, take her off. I really have 
something to tell this time. 

BBSS— Shall I let her up, Viv? 

VIVIAN — Yes, but she must prove her claim that it is 
something worth hearing to the satisfaction of all pres- 
ent, or we will all sit on her next time. 

JEANETTE (takes center of stage) — I know why Oneida 
is sad today and I know everything. You know she 
lived here years ago and then moved away and has 
only been back a few years. Well, my mother told me 
• last night all about why she left and everything. Girls, 
Mrs. Robson, our Oneida, has had a great sorrow in 
her life. 

RACHAEL (explosively) — Rats! So have we all. 

JEANETTE (offended, crossing to Viola)— YiolSi, I will not 
go on until Rachael is silenced. 

VIOLA (goes to Rachael and holds hand over RacheVs 
mouth) — Go on, Jeanette, I'll bet for once you are 
going to tell us something we really want to hear. 

JEANETTE ( looking around the circle and very importantly 
resuming her story) — Girls, Oneida had a beautiful 
daughter. 

SUSAN — Course she did, Margarita, but she is a holy terror. 

PERSIS — My brother, Ralph, says she is going to be one 
of the prettiest girls in this town and he only wishes 
he was a few years younger. 

HELEN— Oh, I am so glad he isn't 

RACHAEL (jeeringly) — La! la! Lovesick Helen gives us 
the bow-wows. 

VIOLA (promptly covering RacheVs mouth, again) — Go on, 
Jeanette. 

JEANETTE— No, I don't mean Margarita. She had an- 
other daughter and lost her. (Pauses to produce effect.) 
(Oirls, startled, rising, ''Dead?" etc.) 
9 



SUSAN — I felt there was a sorrow in her life. 

JEANETTE — Not dead at all, girls, but disappeared. Stolen 
or kidnapped or something. Isn't it awful? I never 
slept a wink last night. I'll tell you all about it. 

BESS {shivering) — G-g-g-irls. I am s-s-s-cared. L-l-l-lets 
go find our G-g-g-guardian. 

RACHEL — I should worry. Jeanette is having a pipe dream 
or just plain lying to get us interested and then she 
will tell us it is another movie. 

JEANETTE — Girls {they cluster around her) — It was this ^ 
way. Long years ago, perhaps as many as fourteen or 
so, Mrs. Robson lived here in Dutton and she had a 
dear little girl, three or four years old, and one day 
she just went down the path into their garden and 
they never saw her again — and that's all they know. 

VIVIAN— Isn't that dreadful? That must have been what 
she was crying about today. 

VIOLA — That was years ago. She wouldn't still remem- 
ber. 

VIVIAN {indignantly) — Little you know of a mother's love, 
Viola Martin. A mother never forgets, 

JEANETTE — Well, my mother said, today she. Rose, that 
was her name, would have been seventeen years old. It 
is her birthday. She said fear of losing Margarita was 
the reason that Oneida always kept her with her, eyen 
bringing her to Camp Fire meetings. Girls, isn't it 
awful? I promised mother I wouldn't tell a soul, but 
when Viv told about finding Oneida crying and every- 
thing, why I just had to. Girls, promise on your honor 
as Camp Fire girls, never to tell. 

GIRLS {one after another) — "Never tell," "Cross my heart," 
etc. 

VIOLA— Tell us, Jeanette, what they did to find her? Did 
they ever ha\;e any suspicions or clues? 

SUSAN — Viola's detective instincts are aroused. Don't you 

wish you had lived then, Vi? 
VIOLA — I would have done something. It might have been 

the wrong thing. But Viv and I would certainly ha^e 

been busy. Wouldn't we, pal? 
VIVIAN {with hand on heart, makes low how) — Yours till 

la 



death, Sherlock. 

JEANETTE — They hired detectives and — policemen — and 
etverything, I guess. It was of no use. They always 
suspected some gypsies that were camping in these very 
woods (awsomely) perhaps on this very spot. 
{Gi7'ls shiver and look over shoulders) 

BESS {almost crying) — I w-w-w-want to g-g-g-o home. 

VIVIAN (putting arm around Bess) — Brace up, Bess. Be a 
true Camp Fire girl. They fear nothing. 

RACHAEL — The deuce they don't. I am scared to death of 
a rat and so is Viv. 

VIVIAN— Well, rats are difeerent. I wouldn't be afraid 
of a dirty old gypsy. Would you, Viv? 

VIOLA — Certainly not. They are simply a lot of cowardly 
horsethieYes — most of them. What does my history say? 
They are a peculiar vagabond race descended from the 
Hindus and no one seems to give them an awful bad 
name except for their thieving habits. Well, I haven't 
a thing for them to steal, so why should I be afraid of 
gypsies. 

JEANETTE (dramatically) — How about if they stole babies? 
That is just what everyone in this town thinks they did 
with little Rose Robson. Stole her and were too scared 
to offer her for ransom as they intended and concealed 
her somewhere or carried her away off into foreign 
countries. Anyway, the gypsies were watched for years 
and the detectives finally made up their minds that 
they got too frightened to keep her and killed her 
and hid her body in the bushes. (Looks ahout, as if 
looking for it.) 

BESS (leginning to cry) — S-s-s-top her, g-g-g-irls. I shall 
have h-h-ysterics. 

VIVIAN — Jeanette is using her imagination too freely. Line 
up girls, I have a few words to say to you. 

(Girls line up, at left of stage and Viv mounts log.) 

VIVIAN — Girls, we are all wearing our ceremonial robes 
and are on our way to Council Fire, where we are 
lifted above all the mean and petty things of life. Our 
name Kitadini, means the highest mountain and our 
Guardian's name Oneida means the rock resting on 
11 



tliat mountain, on wliicli the beacon fire is built that 
sbeds its glow for miles around. Isn't. that what our 
Guardian means to us, girls? Isn't that what her life 
with us has meant? Always our beacon fire and strong 
as the rock, to take so many girls to her heart when 
she is always sorrowing for her own? Girls, swear to 
lo\e her, help her and never to do anything to cause 
her to regret making Kitadini Camp Fire what it is, 
in this community. 
All together, girls, swear. 

(Oirls raise right hands very solemnly together, "I 
swear") 

BETTY — Three cheers for Vivian, who always says the 
right thing. 

GIRLS (form circle and cheer) — "Hullabaloo (repeated) 
twice) Rah rah. Rah rah — Vivian, Vivian, Vivian!" 

VIVIAN (confused) — Girls, don't be foolish. Let's get our 
things together and trot along or we will be late to 
Council fire and Oneida will have to wait for us. 

(Start along, hut pause as Nita and Rosalia enter 
left. Girls exclaim and draw Mck and look at the gyp- 
sies curiously.) 

VIVIAN— What have we here? 

VIOLA (aside) — Don't that girl look like Margarita Rob- 
son? 

VIVIAN — Viola, you have got them. 

BETTY— Are they gypsies? 

JEANETTE — Isn't this exciting. Just like a story, they are 
so pretty — 

NITA (hold and cool, under their scrutiny, drags Rosalia, 
who covers her face with her hands, to center stage) — 
Look, Rosalia, here are some make-believe Indians. See 
their beads. White-faced Indians. Did you ever hear 
tell? Come, pretty squaws. Let me tell your fortunes. 

ROSALIA (pleadingly) — Please come away, Nita. Mina 
wouldn't want them here. 

NITA — Come, which girl will have her fortunes told? Ten 
cents is all I will ask and you shall know your fate, 

BETTY— I don't want to. 

ELEAJNOR — Nor I. I think gypsies are horrid creatures. 

12 



BESS — G-g-g-irls, c-c-come on. I w-w-w-ant to g-g-g-go. 

HELEN — Can you tell me wliom I will marry? 

NITA — Not his name, Miss, but I can describe Wm. 

HELEN — I have a nickel. Who will lend me another? 

VIVIAN — I will (passes her money). 

NITA (takes Helen's hand) — You are a very foolish little 
girl; very romantic and you think yourself in love, but 
you are much too young to think of such things. 
(Girls cluster around and laugh.) 

HELEN (tossing her head) — Oh, I don't believe you can 
tell fortunes at all. 

VIVIAN — Yes she can, too. She has hit it just right so far. 

RACHAEL — I should worry, Helen, give the little monkey 
your paw and heed well the gypsy warning. 

NITA (angrily) — No nice girl call other girl monkey. Rosa- 
lia, take your hands down from your face and show the 
girls how much you look like them. She isn't a full- 
blooded gypsy. 

HELEN — Never mind about her. Tell me the rest. 

NITA — You are fond of a tall dark fellow, he is years 
older. He drives a machine, what you call — automobile, 
let's see — (hesitates) it is red. (Shouts of laughter 
from the girls.) He has a sweet sister and he thinks 
no more of you than of any other pretty child his sister 
plays with. You must forget him. Soon another hand- 
some blond man will enter your life, who will be the 
right one. Keep your heart and life pure and sweet 
for him. 

VIOLA — Pretty good guesswork, little one. That describes 
Persis' Ralph. Now watch out, Helen, for the hand- 
some stranger. 

HELEN (half laughingly, half provoked) — I do not believe 
in fortune telling, anyway. -^ 

VIVIAN — Who is your friend and what is your name? 

NITA (sullenly) — My name is Nita. Her name, none of 
your business. Gome Rosalia, we must go, now. 

ROSALIA (frightened)— ^it2i, Nita, I am afraid. These 

girls may tell Rod they saw us. Tell him where we are. 
Mina — Mina. 

(Mina rushes on, waving her arms and screaming.) 
13 



MINA — What is? What is? Mina here. Go 'way, you 
dressed-up fools. How dare you make the fun of my 
Rosalia? Get out of here, every one of you. (Chases 
them off. Girls run out in mad rush.) 

(Mina soothed l)y Rosalia, continues to mutter for 
some time.) 

NITA {watching them, contemptuously) — Rosalia, you are 
certainly getting to be an awful booby. Perhaps, if 
you had been nice to those girls you might have learned 
something about yourself. You never can tell. Now, 
they think you are the worst gypsy in the lot. I acted 
lots better than you did with your silly hands up over 
your silly face all the time. 

ROSALIA — I can't help it. I felt so queer. When that 
first girl said she looked like Margarita someone, I was 
afraid I was going to learn something and somehow I 
couldn't bear to know. Mina, Mina, now you are quiet 
and calm. Please tell me who I am and why we stole 
away from the caravan and everything. Please, please ! 
{Oirls lead Mina to log, at rear of stage, and sit 
at her feet. Mina sits silent, sometime shaking her 
head and muttering.) 

MINA — Little Rosalia, no gypsy. She belong right over in 
that town {pointing) once. Little cunning bebe, then — 
long time ago — {loses her self and girls motion er^h 
other to J)e quiet.) Mina, not know anything, but 
Rod bring you in, long curs hangin' — I like you queeck, 
I say, "Give Mina." He swear big oath and say "Get 
out of way." He tell us all, he kill any one tell bebe 
with us — hold bad smelling stuff under bebe's nose — 
{shakes head) bebe go all limp — hides her under driv- 
er's seat {rises to her feet and limps adout, excitedly). 
I make fire {motion), cook supper — by and by men 
come, lots of men. They say they hunt bebe. They 
look everywhere but right place — then go away. Rod 
laugh, he say by and by get money for bebe. We stay 
day or two, then go away, Mina take care of Rosalia. 
We call you that 'cause your najme Rose. You say, "Rose, 
I Rose," so gypsy women call your Rosalia, that gypsy 
name for Rose. Rod good to you, never whip — Whip 
14 



Nita wlien she get rougti and hurt you — I feel sick 
late days — want to take bebe back to mudder — first, 
she cry in night, B'Mimsie, Mumsie." Once before I 
try and Rod say, "I crazy, or he would kill." But when 
we took the road to Button — horse fell sick — I plan — 
I lie awake — I plan — What is I want to do? {Passes 
hand over head.) Where did I come — I come — I come — 
My head — Am I crazy? What did I say? (Seats her- 
self on log.) I not know what I have said. Yes, I lie — 
Rosalia is Rod's own girl — I not know — {getting eX' 
cited). Where am I? {Shaking head and crying) Take 
me back, I guess I die soon, now. {Drops head on 
"breast, as if asleep). 

NITA — Granny, you are not going to die {jumping to her 
feet). When you get ready to die pick out a brighter 
spot, old scout. Rosalia, let's take her to the tent and 
— what you dreaming about? You surely do not take 
any stock in that rigamarole, do you? Imagine you 
are a fairy princess or something. Those spider bugs 
are just getting warmed up a little in granny's garret. 

ROSALIA {indignantly trying to get Mina's attention) — 
Mina, don't look like that. I believe every word of it. 
We will keep on until we find my people. Nita, that 
was a long time ago. Do you suppose they would be 
living here now? 

NITA — Oh, yes. They probably live right around the cor- 
ner from that church steeple you see in the distance 
{pointing). Don't you wish you had been nice to those 
girls now? One of them might have been your sister. 

ROSALIA {jumping to her feet) — No, you don't think that, 
do you, Nita? 

NITA — Rosalia, that was the greatest mixture of truth and 
lies I ever heard Granny spiel off and if you believe 
that you must be nutty yourself. 

ROSALIA {with dignity) — I believe every word of it. Come, 
Mina. 

{Together the girls assist Mina, who walks feehly 
and mutters to herself. Exit left.) 

Enter Vivian and Viola from left. 

VIOLA — This is certainly an exciting day. Isn't it, Vlv? 



Why did we leave here so soon? I said I was not afraid 
of gypsies but I was never so near scared to death in 
my life as when that old hag appeared around the 
bend of those trees. My heart was in my mouth. 
VIVIAN — We really cannot be very good Camp Fire Girls, 
can we, Vi? Do you remember, though, how we slept 
on the shores of the lake, that awful dark night and 
that owl kept making that weird, weird noise. We 
weren't afraid. Maybe we did pull the blankets up over 
our heads and shiver a little, but it was great fun just 
the same, but I felt just as you did today. And, here 
We have been planning, if our country ever goes to war 
again to go in for secret service work and deal with 
hardened criminals, spies and no end of awful creatures 
and here we are scared to death of an old half-crazy 
gypsy. 

VIOLA — I know of one thing. I am sure that girl, the light 
one, looked just like Margarita Robson. I got a good 
look at her before she covered her face with her hands. 
She looked at me with that wide-eyed gaze of Marga- 
rita's when she has done something awful and wants 
you. to think she is a cherub. The others were gypsies 
beyond a doubt, but Viv, suppose this should be our 
Guardian's girl. 

(They seat themselves on log.) 

VIVIAN — You know I was not surprised or sorry, when 
Margarita and her aunt met us at the mountain and 
told us Oneida was too ill to come today. Of course 
I was sorry she was ill, but I just felt I could not face 
her after that story of Jeanette's and seeing this girl 
and the old woman and all. You know Oneida is so 
keen. I am sure she would have, felt we girls knew 
and that would have been hard for her. 

VIOLA — Wouldn't it be peachy if we could find out all 
about this girl, and it should be Rose Robson and we 
could return her to her mother? Wouldn't it be won- 
derful? 

VIVIAN. Come on, Viola (arising), let's ferrit out this 
mystery. At least, about this girl and these gypsies. 
What are they doing hiding in these woods? Where is 
16 



their caravan, wagon and things? Will you do it? 

VIOLA — Well, of course, they may be miles away by now, 
that is the way gypsies do, travel all the time, but let's 
go on this theory. They are hidden around here some- 
where and we must get the girl's confidences. How can 
we do it? 

VIVIAN — The little one was ready enough to talk, but the 
other one was scared to death of us. She would never 
talk to us girls. Would she? 

VIOLA — Oh, Vivian (jumping up and down and seizing Viv- 
ian's hands). Remember those masquerade costumes 
we've got. Overalls, big hats and so forth. Let's 
dress up in them and pretend to be boys. Oneida said 
no one would know us from real boys. You know, girls 
will always get chummy with farmer boys. They look 
so harmless and innocent. Will you do it, Viv? 

VIVIAN — Sure thing {hesitatingly), but our mothers won't 
let us. 

VIOLA {loftily) — Can't see any sense in asking them, at all. 

VIVIAN {giggling) — Where can we dress? 

VIOLA — Over in my barn. That is nearest the wood. Go 
down through the meadow and jump the fence. Come 
on over to my house and stay all night and we can get 
cook to put us up a breakfast. We will tell her it is a 
sunrise party, a hike, or something. Then we can get 
into the woods before anyone is about. Are you wid 
me, pal of mine? 

VIVIAN {extending her hand and clasping Viola's) — Bet 
your boots. Hand on it, Sherlock the mighty. 

Exit right. 
Wait of a few moments, in ivMch stage is darkened 
a little. 

Enter from left, Rosalia and Nita, canning 'blankets, which 
they proceed to spread on the ground during the con- 
versation. 

NITA — Don't you think it will be cooler here than in the 
tent? I think we had best settle down here for the 
night. It is eight o'clock, for I heard the clock on 
the church strike a while ago. 

ROSALIA {industriously making her hed) — I saw two of 

17 



those girls go through here, on their way home, I sup- 
pose. It was while j'ou were gone for the wood and 
Mina was asleep. I peeped from the tent and they 
stopped here awhile. I would have come out but I was 
afraid of waking Mina, 
NITA (settling herself on her stomach on the blanket and 
looMng about dreamily) — What a funny life they lead. 
Think of dressing up and playing in the woods and 
here we live in the woods and would be glad to play in 
the town. 

ROSALIA {settling herself beside Nita) — I wish I could 
have said something to them for they must have thought 
I was queer or something. I can't see what made me 
act that way. 

NITA — Well, I thought you were so brave when you were 
telling about killing Rod and then to go all to pieces 
before a lot of silly schoolgirls. It was the limit. 

ROSALIA {lying down in her blanket, rouses, after a mo- 
ment, and says) — Do you think we could hear Mina if 
she called — Do you think she will be frightened if she 
wakes and finds us gone? — Do you think Rod will come 
tonight? 

NITA — You are an excited question-mark tonight. I do 
not believe you will ever get t osleep. Now {sitting up, 
very straight in her blankets), let me relieve your mind. 
First, we won't hear Granny because I have put her to 
sleep. 

"ROSALIA {horrified) — Nita, w^hat do you mean? 

NITA {dramatically) — When we came away I took the 
bottle that Rod gi\es her the pills out of when she is 
wild and tonight when she ate her supper I put two 
in the corn meal mush and Presto Chango {with airy 
gesture) down they went. {Lays down again.) 

ROSALIA {admiringly) — I believe, Nita, you have more 
courage and are more resourceful than I am. 

NITA — No, that was just plain common sense {sitting up 
again). Now, about Rod. When I was picking up the 
wood, two men passed by, on their way home from fish- 
ing and I hid behind a bush. One of them said, "Did 
you see the gypsies go through the lower road yester- 
18 



day?" And the other man swore and said, "Yes; they 
never dared to set foot on the upper road since that 
.scrape fourteen years ago. Guess the farmers would 
get out their shotguns if they did." The first man said, 
"Yes, every gypsy tribe within one hundred miles knows 
enough to give that road a wide berth." 

IIOSALIA — Nita, Granny knew, didn't she? That was why 
she brought us up here. I think for all her brain goes 
wrong at times, she is really very shrewd and has 
planned well, but I am afraid she will never get anyone 
to believe her, if she ever gets well enough to get into 
town. 

NITA — Rosalia, let's go to sleep and hope tomorrow she will 
be better and if she isn't, you and I will have to start 
out and leave her. In that case (thoughtfully) we 
would have to give her a couple of pills (lies down afid 
covers herself up with Nanket). 

ROSALIA (looking over at her, wonderingly) — Nita, you 
are the strangest girl. You pretend not to believe any- 
thing then you plant, as if you believed it all and you 
talk as if Granny was an old horse or something ; but 
I know you love her just the same, and would not hurt 
her for anything. 

NITA (gi-unting) — Now shut up, Rosalia, for Heaven's 
sake and let us go to sleep. 

(Intervals of yawnmg and occasionally Rosalia says 
something, Mi Nita makes no t^eply, and finally the girls 
sleep. ) 

(Enter Mina from left. She draws the blankets up 
a Nt and looks at the girls tenderly, mutters, as if to 
herself, ''Tomorrow — tomorroiv'' and exits left, feebly.) 

Curtain. End of Act I. 

Act II. 

Time — Next morning. 
SCENE— The same as Act I. 

Enter Vivian and Viola, dressed as farmer hoys, 
VIOLA (in farmer's dialect) — Pal, we air about to unravel 
the mystery of these heah woods. 
19 



VIVIAN (laughing) — Do you believe we will ever see tliose 
girls again or do you suppose tliey just strayed off from 
the rest of tlie tribe? 

VIOLA {in natural voice) — Well, they came a long way 
then, for my father said the gypsies were camping 
right outside Hillsboro when he drove over there last 
night about supper time. They had settled down there 
by the river, but father drove into town and notified 
the authorities and they agreed with him that gypsies 
were not wanted in these parts, and sent the police 
out to drive them away. Father said they started south 
in great haste. 

VIVIAN — These girls could never have caught up with them. 
Could they? 

VIOLA — No, but that does not mean that they would stay 
right in this spot. I am going to rest awhile anyway. 
I am so full after that delicious egg and bacon break- 
fast. My, but food tastes good cooked and eaten in 
the great outdoors. {Settles herself against the log at rear 
of stage, just where girls' Mankets have deen spread 
the night Itefore.) Jumping Jehosphats! {leaps to her 
feet) I have a clue. 

VIVIAN {running to her) — Where? What? 
VIOLA {pawing the grass) — See here! Here is where some- 
one has been lying. Wait a minute {crawls around). 
Here is another place just the same {gets to her feet). 
Viv, here is where those tw^o girls slept last night — 
{perplexed), but where did the old woman go? She 
must have left them or something. Let's look and see 
if there is another place crushed like this. 

VIVIAN {examining ground) — Viola, I am so excited I am 
trembling all over. We may see them any minute now 
and I haven't a thing planned to say. Quick, let's make 
our final arrangements. First, my name is Jake, isn't 
it? 

VIOLA — Yes, and mine is Hiram. This is the way I planned 
it. We will be real rural, that is talk farmery. We will 
flirt with them and jolly them. I'll take the little gypsy, 
for I am afraid to tackle the other one. She seemed dif- 
ficult to me. We will do anything to win their con- 
20 



fideuce, for you remember the happiness of our Guardian 
may be at stake. 
VIVIAN — Shall we go in search of them? It seems terribly 
tame to just sit here and wait. You sit here and rest 
a minute and let that wonderful brain of yours work, 
while I do a little reconnoitering up this path. 

VIOLA (seating herself) — Don't be long. Will you? I can't 
get my brain working until something really happens, 
then watch me. (Watches Vivian up the path.) Viv is 
so energetic. Has to be doing something all the time. 
Let me see how will I start. (Stands and hows to 
imaginary girls.) 

VIOLA (in dialect, assuming pose) — Gosh all Hemlock! 
What a pair of pretty gals. Pure and sweet as this 
heah mountin brook, a fella can see that at a glance. 
Then I will take the little one's hand and look into her 
eyes and she will tell me the whole story. 
Vivian, enters running from left. 

VIVIAN — Oh, Viola, listen ! I have found them ! I mean I 
know where they are. I'm so scared. Honest I am. 

VIOIiA — Quick, Jakey, old man. Let's hear. 

VIVIAN (gasping) — Just up the path, I parted the bushes. 
There was a little tent. "I lifted the flap. There was 
an old gypsy asleep. Oh, she looked awful. Mouth 
wide open and she was groaning. 

VIOLA— What else, Jakey? 

VIVIAN — Nothing ; I ran for my life. Viola, I am so scared. 
I did not know I was such a coward. Don't you think 
we had better go to town and get someone to help us? 

VIOLA (sternly) — None of that. These honors, if there be 
any, will go to Kitadini Camp Fire and don't you for- 
get that for one moment. 

VIVIAN — But the old woman is awful. Wait until you 
see her again. 

VIOLA — We have been in lots of scrapes and I never saw 
you show the white feather, Viv, when the time came 
for action, I trust you now, to buck up, Jakey (slaps 
her on hack). This will be loads of fun, even if we 
are on a false scent. Where do you think the girls are? 

VIVIAN — They must be right about somewhere for their 

21 



tambos were in the tent. So they must be coming back. 
{Sound of laughter-) 
VIOLA — Hark, I heard someone laugh. Look there, they 

are coming down the mountaiji side. 
VIVIAN — They will have to come right through here. Won't 

they? Let's just sit down on this log and look inno- 
cent (seat themselves). Isn't this wonderful? I 

wouldn't miss this for anything. 
VIOLA — That is the way to talk. You are becoming my 

good old pal again. 
VIVIAN {in dialect) — Sure, Hiram, I allays be on hand 

when the fun starts. Hey, old pal? {gives Vi a playful 

punch, that nearly k?iocks her off the log). 
{Talk 'busily.) 
Enter Rosalia and Nita from right. 
NITA — I think, Rosalia, that Mina will be better after this 

long sleep. 
ROSALIA — I know she will. Wasn't the sunrise beautiful 

this morning? I never saw anything more gorgeous. 
NITA {discovers the hoys) — Love of Peter, what have we 

here? {Both girls run to right.) 

Boys arise and Viola starts out gallantly. 
VIOLA — Gosh all hemlock. *VVhat a pair of pretty gals. 

Pure and sweet as this heah mountin brook, a fella can 

see that at a glance {tries to take Nita's hand, who 

gives him a smart slap). 
NITA — Don't you get fresh, young man. You may not mean 

any harm, for you look just like a pair of natural born 

fools, don't they, Rosalia? 
ROSALIA — They are not like any young men I have ever 

seen. 
JAKE {good naturedly) — Come, Hiram. Don't be a-gettin' 

peeved fust off. You was a leetle presumptuous for 

short acquaintance. Wan't you now, Hiram? 
HIRAM — I was just plumb amazed at seeing tew sich beau- 

toful creeturs wanderin' loose around our old wood lot. 
ROSALIA {frightened) — Oh, is this your wood lot? We are 

not going to stay only until Granny gets a little stronger. 
JAKE — Welcome to stay as long as you please. I tell you, 

we fellas get purty lonesome round these heah parts. 
22 



ROSALIA — Aren't there any girls? 

HIRAM {still rulthing his cheek) — Ain't any that will look 
at us. 

NITA — We saw a bushel of girls up here yesterday all 
dressed up in Indian things. What were they, do you 
know? 

HIRAM — Jake, that describes the Kitadinis. Miss, that 
heah was the Kitadini Camp Fire, I reckon, out for an 
airin'. Pretty hansum crowd of gals in their civilized 
rigs ; but Law, they won't look at us two old farmers. 

ROSALIA {timidly) — I don't think that is very nice of 
them. You look like good boys to me. 

NITA — What do they dress like that for? Look like a lot 
of nuts to me. 

JAKE — That is their — heah — Vv^hat do you call it. Their 
ceremonj^ dress, or something like that. They was kal- 
kulatin' on havin' a big time up on the mountin yester- 
day, but their big chief, guardian, they call her, got 
sick and couldn't come — 

ROSALIA — It must be something like those college frats 
our tutor told us about, Nita. All banded together and 
sworn to do all kinds of wonderful things, like King 
Arthur's knights did, maybe — 

JAKE {curiously) — What do you gypsy gals know about 
college frats and that big guy, Arthur? 

NITA — Poof, I suppose because — we are gypsies we don't 
know anything. Why, every winter for years, we settle 
down in a big lovely house that Rod owns and we girls 
have a tutor. 

HIRAM— Who is Rod? 

NITA — Why, don't you know Rod? But course you don't, 
living way up here. Rod is our big chief, king of all 
the gypsies. He is old now, but handsome. Isn't he, 
Rosalia ? 
ROSALIA {shivering) — I don't think so. Let's talk about 
something else? Do you know many folks over in that 
town ? 
HIRAM — We know 'most everybody. Course we' ain't called 
on to 'sociate with 'em, much. What is the matter with 
the old woman in the tent? 
23 



NITA {angrily) — There ain't no old woman and there ain't 
no tent. What are you talking about? 

ROSALIA — Why, Nita, don't lie that way. Didn't I tell 
the boys we had Granny to look out for and of course 
they know she can't live in the open as we do. 

NITA — Well, there ain't nothing the matter with her and 
you can keep your mouths shut about her. You can 
talk to u& all you please. 

HIRAM — That's the stuff, leetle gal. I like you better every 
minute. Can you gals dance or do somethin' to help 
us pass away the fust mornin' we've had away from 
that air hay field for a week. Hey, Jake? 

JAKE — The gals air a mite bashful, Hi 

NITA {laughing) — Bashful, why that's our business. Danc- 
ing and telling fortunes. O, Rosalia, let's tell fortunes. 
You take the dark one and I'll take this fresh young 
fellow — {starts for Jake). 

JAKE {putting his hands behind him and retreating) — No, 
sir-ee. From the time I was a leetle fella my mother 
always taught me never to hoi' hands with no gals, and 
I ain't goin' to fergit the teachin's of the best mother 
that ever lived. 

HIRAM {putting his hands in his pockets) — You be right, 
Jakey, me neither. 

NITA {offended) — All right. I said you was just natural 
born fools, the first minute I saw you. 

JAKE— Well, we ain't 'zactly that. Be we. Hi? Let's do 
some stunts. Sing 'em some of those heah songs we 
larned up at that sugar camp, last season. 

{Both seat themselves on log, at hack, while the 
girls look on and applaud. Here introduce some funny 
songs, sung in a mannish voice. Parodies of amp popular 
songs are alivays good. 

HIRAM — That's all we can perform. Now you heah gals 
do your part. 

ROSALIA {gleefully)— Oh, yes, Nita, that last little dance 
we learned. Wait until I get the tambos. 
{Runs out left) 

HIRAM {goes to Nita, cautiously) — That gal ain't no grpsy. 

24 



She is the dead spit of Margarita over in Button, only 
she's dirty. 

NITA (aghast) — Rosalia dirty! That's the color of her 
skin from being out in all weathers through sun and 
rain. Little you boys know of the hardships gypsies 
have to endure. Travelling about and singing and dano 
ing and then giving all your pennies to Rod — Sh, here 
comes Rosalia. 

(Enter Rosalia with tambos and the two girls dance, 
while the "boys seat themselves on the logs at front of 
stage right and left. The dance used in the original 
production was "The Gypsy Beggar Dance," from the 
Russian School of Dancing.) 

(After dance, they pair off. Nita and Hiram at 
front of stage. Rosalia and Jake in rear, talkimg bus- 
ily.) 

HIRAM — I'm jist plum' crazy about you, leetle gal. (Puts 
arm around her.) 

NITA (looking foolish) — Don't be silly. 

HIRAM — I jist love those black, black eyes. You know 
some folks say, Nita, that only aggresiv' folks has black 
eyes, but I think lots of lovin' folks has 'em, too. 

NITA (pulling away from his embrace, smartly) — Some 
folks that ain't born with 'em gets 'em later, if they 
don't watch out. 

(Walk to back of stage as Jake and Rosalia come 
forward. ) 

JAKE (dropping dialect) — Won't you trust me, Rosalia? 

ROSALIA (amazed) — Why, how funny you talk and look 
not like a farmer at all. 

JAKE (hurriedly) — Wal, I guess I must have larnt same 
social varnish, ain't that what you call it, the year 
I was at that heah camp. 

ROSALIA— I am going to trust you and ask your help. I 
was stolen years ago from that town over there. Old 
granny is trying to give me back to my parents, if they 
are still living, but her mind is bad and she never did 
know my name and we girls don't know what to do — 
We escaped from Rod I should judge five milCvS from 
here, but Granny led us through just over grown paths 
25 



and it was so dark and all, I can't even judge where 
we came from. We were afraid of Rod's following us. 
but now we know he doesn't ever come into this part 
of the wood. 

JAKE {eagerly) — Rosalia, I can help you {in dialect hast- 
ily) I mean, leetle gal, trust Jakey and he will be like 
a brother to yer and restore yer to your lovin' mother. 

ROSALIA — Oh, you are just teasing me. Did you ever hear 
of a child stolen hereabouts? Have your folks lived 
here long? 

{Retire to hack of stage, talking excitedly.) 
{Hiram and Nita at front.) 

NITA — You are the coolest boy I ever met and believe me 
I have met a few. First, you ask me to tell you all 
about Rosalia, and when I have told you all I know, 
you turn around and ask me to go to walk with you 
tonight. Is that all the help you are capable of offer- 
ing two girls in great distress of mind? 

HIRAM — Listen, Nita. Never despise a walk with a farmer 
boy. For I read t'other day, whar a big man says : "Never 
be unkind to the lop-eared farmer boy who comes along 
stepping high like a blind hoss straddling the corn rows 
{imitates). By and by, he will own all the land that 
jines his'n* and be president of the big bank where you 
want to borry money." 

NITA {laughing) — Gracious, I like you, e^en if you are 
fresh and I'll throw worry to the winds and go to walk 
with you tonight if Rosalia and your brother will go 
along. 

{Interrupt Jakey and Rosalia who are talking ear- 
ncsth/.) 

HIRAM — What do you say, Jakey, will you do it? Take the 
gals to walk tonight down by the spring and show them 
where that smashing big snake takes his moonlit bath 
about seven-thirty. 

ROSALIA {rising) — I can't go. I hate snakes and beside 
we mustn't leave Granny. 

JAKE — Wal, now I know somethin'. Those Kitadin Camp 
Fire gals are comin' up these heah woods tonight to 
hold that air thing they couldn't have yesterday, and 
26 



your Granny won't want to stay hereabouts for tlier 
are the consarnedest, foolishest bunch of gals, when they 
git together, you ever see. And — and the noisiest, too. 
So let's take Granny along and if she gits tired Hi 
and I will tote her. She is a leetle thing. 

NITA {surprised) — How do you know she is a "leetle 
thing" ? 

JAKE {hurriGdly) — Rosalia told me. 

ROSALIA {promptly)— Why, I did not. 

JAKE {airly) — Wal, then I must have dreamt it. Come 
on, Hi. Goodbye till w^e meet again, gals. 

HIRAM {sentimentally) — Goodbye, my leetle black-eyed 
sweetheart. I am plumb crazy about you. 

NITA {saucily)— Too bad about you. 
Exit l)oys to ri/flit. 

NITA — That was the best fun I've had for ages. Didn't 
we string 'em along? 

ROSALIA — I am going to hurry to Granny. She has slept 
for hours. I am afraid you gave her too many pills. 
Exit Rosalia to left. 

NITA — Heavens ! Isn't Rosalia the most innocent kid. I 
think she honestly thought those kids were boys. I 
thought — until the first good look — and when they 
wouldn't have their palms read. I KNEW. I wasn't 
going to spoil their fun. They are a pair of good 
scouts anyway, and they are probably connected with 
that Camp Fire some way. Hi (?) said he could 
straighten out the whole matter about Rosalia. He (?) 
said not to worry and to forget it all and I am going to. 
I am so happy {throws up her arms and takes a few 
dancing steps). {Soltering) They are a pair of mighty 
smart girls and they shall never know from me that I 
saw through their disguise. I suppose being a gypsy 
and a fakir myself makes me suspicious of others. 
Anyway it was a good morning's work and I think 
Rosalia is really in love with her Jakey. I shall let 
her dream on for waking is such sweet pain. 



{Walks out left.) 



CURTAIN 
27 



Act II — Scene 2. 

Time — Evening, lighting suhdued. 
SCENE — Same as before. Flag on hush at Mck. 
Enter Aunt Maria and Mrs. Rohson and Margarita. Mrs. R. 
ivearing her ceremonial dress. 

MRS. ROB SON— Well, here we are at last. This is the 
place, for here is the flag Viv said she would place on 
the tree. It is certainly a lovely spot, but very small 
for a council fire. {Walks about measuring distances.) 

AUNT MARIA (sTdffing) — I tell you one thing, Mary Rob- 
son, if I had ever realized what I was to endure when 
I came to be a companion to you and Margarita, I 
never would have left my happy home. 

MARGARITA (impishly) — Happy home? Three rooms and 
one old tom cat? 

MRS. ROB SON— Margarita, be quiet. 

MARGARITA— I won't, mother. She is an old cat herself. 

MRS. ROBSON — Margarita, go sit down on that stump and 
remain silent for five minutes. I shall punish you when 
I get you home. 

AUNT MARIA — Yes, a lot you will punish her. That has 
come to be the common thing nowadays for a child 
to insult her elders. When I was a girl — 

MRS. ROBSON— Yes, Maria, I know and I feel too that I 
do not do right with Margarita. She is a saucy, spoiled 
child I admit, but Maria, when I think of anything hap- 
pening to her I am as weak and helpless as a child my- 
self. I cannot bring myself to punish her, for she looks 
at me with that wide-eyed gaze just as little Rose did 
once, when I spanked her hands for breaking a vase. 
She looked at me and said, "Mumsie spank Rose" (hides 
her face) I know it is foolish — (seats herself on log). 

AUNT MARIA (softening, crosses and puts her hand on 
Mrs. Rohson's shoulder) — Yes, I know, Mary. You are 
a good woman and you have had a hard life. I am 
sorry if I made you think of Rose again. (Margarita 
steals out, left.) I hoped that you would not think of 
her so much today after allowing yourself the luxury 
of a whole afternoon in bed, yesterday. 

2e 



MRS. ROB SON — I could have gone with you to the mountain 
yesterday if we had not seen those vile-looking gypsies 
passing just as I went out to the machine. That old 
man fairly leered at me. It was too much — I know 
I am weak. 

AUNT MARIA {seating herself on log at hack) — You would 
be much stronger if you did not wear yourself out fuss- 
ing with those foolish girls half your time. You are 
just wearing yourself out, catering to their every whim, 
like coming here tonight. Absolutely no reason for it, 

MRS. ROBSON— But, Maria, tonight is our Council Fire, 
that the girls were disappointed in not having yester- 
day. Surely I could do no less than come with them 
tonight. 

AUNT MARIA— Council Fire fiiddlesticks. You would think 
they were a lot of Indians and you, too. Building fires 
and kow-towing to them. Yes, downright heathenish, 
I call it. 

MRS. ROBSON — Oh, Maria. All love for girls and most 
everything else was left out of your make-up, I really 
think. It is a dreadful way to feel and I wish you 
could have become interested in my girls. They are all 
I live for except Margarita. They make the only bright 
spots in my otherwise colorless existence. I love every 
one of them, for their own sake and for the sake of my 
Rose, who would have been just about their age, if she 
had been spared to me. 

AUNT MARIA — I have never loYed a child, except little 
Rose, that you know very well. She was an angel. I 
never had cared for anything but cats before, but I did 
worship that baby. Never again. I will never permit 
myself to become so idiotic. What is the use? Twice 
love has entered my life and both times it has torn it 
to pieces. I have succeeded in patching it up with the 
cement of unfriendliness and crankiness. I am very 
well satisfied, and so are other people, at least, they 
let me alone and that is all I we;it. 

MRS. ROBSON {going to her) — But how much better, 
Maria, to have used the Camp Ffre methods of "Good 
Service" and "Seek Beauty." 
29 



AUNT MARIA — Hm! I think those girls of yours are just 
like any other girls. Vain, silly and pert, and running 
after the boys, and those two that stick around you so 
much, with Oneida this and Oneida that, they are two 
little devils, if I ever saw any. Oneida fiddlesticks ! 

MRS. ROB SON (pained) — Now, Maria, I will not hear you 
talk like that about Viv and Vi. They are dear, warm- 
hearted girls. Why {looJcing out left) here comes Mar- 
garita. (Margarita enters.) Why, Margarita, where 
have you been? How could you run away like that 
when mother told you to sit quietly on the stump? 
Mother would have been so worried if she had known. 
(All rise) 

MARGARITA (clinging to her mother) — I saw a little tent 
hid in the bushes. 

AUNT MARIA — There she is, lying again, Mary. 

MRS. ROB SON — Pet, you must not make up those stories. 
Mother knows you did not see the tent, but you must 
not tell it just as if it was true. 

MARGARITA— I did see a tent. Honest, mother. 

AUNT MARIA— If you do not train that child, I will take 
a hand soon, Mary Robson. 

MRS. ROBSON (hurriedly)— LeVs talk about something 
else. Where do you suppose the girls are? Viv and Vi 
told me they should be very late and asked us not to 
wait for them, but the other girls are due here now. 

MARGARITA— Mother, did I tell you what Bess' little 
brother said the other day to his mother when they 
were cleaning the attic. 

MRS. ROBSON— What was it, dear. 

MARGARITA— -His mother was taking the winter clothes 
out and a moth flew out and Bobby says, ''Mother, what 
did the moths live on before Adam and Eve wore clothes." 

MRS. ROBSON (laughing heartily)— Oh, how funny. He 
must have just started in Sunday School. 

AUNT MARIA (disdainfully)— Guvious, how easily amused 
some folks are at the foolishness of their offspring. 

MARGARITA — Can I have a new dress for the dancing 
school ball, mother? I am to dance all alone, Miss 
True says, if I can have a fluffy dress just like a flower. 
30 



AUNT MARIA — Flowers ! Tansj weed, I guess. Homely 
and scrawny and yellow. 

[Margarita sticks out tongue.) 

MRS. ROB SON — Yes, I think you may. {Margarita ca- 
pers madly alyout.) Now, don't get wild, Margarita. 
You will have to be very quiet tonight during the Coun- 
cil Fire. Here come the girls, now. 

AUNT MARIA {seating herself on log, at Ze/#)— Well, I 
shall sit right here and I hope they don't say one word 
to me. 

MARGARITA — Don't worry. Auntie, they won't if they can 
help it, I'll bet. 

Enter right, Gamp Fire girls, all l)ut Viv and Vi, wearing 
ceremonial goions. 

MRS. ROB SON — Good eevning, girls. What made you so 
late. 

All greet her and loalk about examining the woods. 

BETTY — We waited for Vivian and Viola a long while 
down by the post office. 

ELEANOR — And they did not come after all. I stopped in 
for Viv and her mother said she had been with Viola 
all day and last night, too. 

BESS — I s-s-stopped in for Vi and the c-c-cook said she had 
gone on a h-h-h-ike with the Camp Fire g-g-g-irls this 
morning. 

JEANETTE — I guess that cook had been to the movies and 
was dreaming about them still for a hike on a day as 
hot as this one has been would be about the limit. 

MRS. ROB SON — Vivian and Viola have something on their 
minds. They came to my house early this afternoon to 
arrange for this Council Fire. They said they would be 
Tery late, but would surprise us by appearing at just the 
right moment and did not want us to wait for them. 

PAULINE {shuddering) — Let's hurry. This place is full of 
bugs and awful things. 

MRS. ROB SON — Pauline, you must get over being afraid 
of crawling things before we spend that week in camp 
in September. We will never be able to make a good 
camper of you. 

31 



JEANETTE — I read a story about a girl who was afraid 
of— 

RACHAEL — Can it, Jeanette, will you. 

MRS. ROB SON— Girls, this is Council Fire time and I 
want you to try to be careful about your language, just 
for this little while. I am going to start a fund for 
needy Camp Fire girls, by fining each one of you a 
penny for every slang word you use in my hearing. We 
would soon have a 'substantial fund, I know. 

MARGARITA — Girls, did you get on to mother's new 
head-band. Isn't that swell and doesn't she look peachy? 
{Kisses her mother.) 

MRS. ROBSON (laughing)— Well, girls, it looks as if I 
would have to begin right in my own home, to collect 
pennies. 

( G4rls cluster around to. examine head-hand. Persis 
and Helen down front.) 

PERSIS — ^My big brother says if you and I will be down by 
th.e willow at eight-thirty, he will take us home. 

HELEN {sighing) — Did he really, Persis? Did he say for 
you to ask me? 

PERSIS — Don't tell the other girls, we will skip them. 

HELEN {rapturously) — Ever since that gypsy told my for- 
tune I have tried to forget him, but I cannot. My love 
for him is too deep. 

{Join the other girls.) 

MRS. ROBSON— Come, girls, we will start now. Get the 
bowl. Bess. Just beyond that tree. {Points off right, 
Bess exits.) 

JEANETTE — I wonder what Viv and Vi are up to this time. 
They are just like girls in stories — 

PERSIS — My big brother says they will get into trouble 
some day, on some of their expeditions looking for ad- 
venture. 

RACHAEL — Well, they won't call on him for help if they 
do. Those two girls are smarter than any SIX boys I 
ever saw. 

{Enter Bess, with iron howl for fire. A small 
amount of alcohol contained in side.) 

MRS. ROBSON — Girls, tonight you must be \ery careful of 
the fire in these woods, you know, so we are not to 
32 



use the candles, but I will light the fire in the bowl and 
recite the Ode to Fire and you can respond with that 
quaint Indian response. 

{Girls all hegin to talk at once.) 

MRS. ROB SON — Come, girls, quiet now. Form a semi- 
circle and I will kneel here. 

(Instant quiet. This can J)e made very impressive. 
Maria turns from log to witness fire lighting and Mar- 
garita stands behind her.) 

MRS. ROBSON (lights fire and recites Ode to Fire, found in 
Gamp Fire Manual. Girls give Indian response. Any 
Indian chant will answer. Pause and silence. Enter 
Viv and Vi, in masquerade rigs. They pass to each side 
of Guardian, who remains looking up, with rapt expres- 
sion. They touch her shoulder and she starts.) 

MRS. ROBSON— Why, it is Vivian and Viola, in the old 
masquerade garb. What is it, dears? 

VIVIAN — Oh, Guardian, dear, help us to help you. 

VIOLA — Let me tell her, Viv. Oneida, we have found — 

VIVIAN — Don't tell her that way, Vi. Oneida we have 
found the most wonderful girl in these woods, and she 
is looking for her mother and she looks so like Mar- 
garita, we think she is missing Rose. 

ONEIDA (rising slowly, in a dazed voice) — What are you 
saying? What do you mean? Did I hear you say 
Rose. Maria, do you hear? 

MARIA (tartly) — Yes, Mary, I hear, but I had much rather 
see. These romantic girls are using very bad taste in 
this joke. 

VIVIAN (putting her ar maround Mrs. Rodson, and almost 
crying) — Oneida, you know we are not as cruel as that. 
If we have made a mistake, it is through love of you. 

MRS. ROBSON— I am sure it is, dear. Tell me what ha^e 
you and Viola been doing? 

VIOLA — Wait a minute. Nita, bring Rosalia into the fire- 
light. 

Enter Rosalia, Nita and Granny. 

NITA — Here is my Rosalia and here is Granny, who will 
tell you all about it, for these two fine young men think 
Rosalia is your missing daughter. 
33 



MRS. ROBSON— Come here, little girl. 

(Rosalia goes to Mrs. R. Trembling and shy. 

Mrs. R. pushes the hair from forehead and looks into her 

eyes.) 
MRS. ROBSON {chokingly) — you are very like Margarita. 

Could it be possible, Maria? 
AUNT MARIA — Hold your horses everybody and let Maria 

take hold of this situation. Come, gypsy girl, get the. 

old hag to tell her story. 
NITA {stamping her fooh) — You are a nasty, disagreeable 

old hag yourself. You shan't call my Granny names 

{puts arms adout Granny). 
VIOLA — Now, little black-eyed sweetheart. We none of us 

notice Aunt Maria. She is permanently soured — and 

likes to rile folks up. Tell Granny to tell the lady 

about Rosalia. 
NITA {pushing Granny forward) — Speak up, Granny. 

{Granny goes forward and falls at Mrs. Robson's 

feet. Draws dress out of dosom.) 
MINA — Here is a little dress she wore — when Rod bring her 

that day many years ago — long curls hanging — I keep 

dress — I hide for years — We stole her — lady — we keep 

her close — long time — Her name Rose. She yours, I 

know — I talk not so much — so many looking — so many 

hearing — when I alone — I tell all. 
ONEIDA {holding dress with tremMing hands) — Maria it 

is my Rose. Look at this dress, you made it yourself. 

See, do you remember. {Turns half crying to Rose, and 

folds her in her arms) Ah Rose, my Rose. 

{Girls gather in groups and talk together and wipe 

eyes frequently.) 
AUNT MARIA {turning dress over and over) — Mary, let 

that blessed baby come to her auntie. God forgive me 

for all my crankiness to those two sweet girls. 

{Rosalia hangs hack, hut Aunt Maria gives her a 

good hug.) 
ROSALIA — Nita! Granny! Isn't this wonderful? Isn't my 

mother grand and this is my little sister Jake told me 

about. I feel as if I was dreaming. 
MARGARITA— Mother, is this really Rose? I thought Rose 

34 



was a baby. Will she be nice to me? Will she have 
my pretty bedroom? Can I have my new dress for the 
dancing school ball just the same? {Throws her arms 
around her mother's neck.) Oh, mother, will you love 
her better than me? 

MRS. ROBSON (shakily)— Hush, child, we will all be happy 
together (eml)races them "both). 

NITA — Goodbye (putting out her hand), Rosalia. Here is 
where our roads separate. Good luck to you and if 
you oyer need friends again, which you probably never 
will, just address us at the old place. 

AUNT MARIA — Just a minute, you^g woman. Do you think 
Maria Stone will ever stand for that? You shall be 
my girl. I like your style. You are not a bit silly and 
you stood up for that old Granny of yours in fine shape. 
We'll all live together. 

JEANETTE — Just as the story books say. 

AUNT MARIA — You won't mind me after you get used to 
me. My bark is lots worse than my bite — what do you 
say? 

NITA — I don't want to leave Rosalia, that's a fact, "and 
then, too, I am in love with Hiram over there. He is 
the nicest boy I ever met. 
(All laugh.) 

ROSALIA — I never dreamt they weren't boys until they 
began talking to — to — ^mother. 

MRS. ROBSON — Bless you, dear (embraces her again). 

NITA — Now, it is all decided but Granny. Of course, she 
will have to come too, for a while, anyway. Look, she 
has dropped into that stupor again. What can we do, 
Mrs. Robson; she lies like that for hours sometimes. 
(Feels in her dress) Oh, Rosalia. I have lost Granny's 
pills. What shall we do? 

MRS. ROBSON— Girls, you walk along with Aunt Maria. 
We will go in the machine. 

(Exit girls, right, all talking excitedly.) 

MRS. ROBSON— Now, Rosalia, get a blanket, if you have 

one and we will throw it over Granny. You won't need 

your pills, Nita, for we will have the doctor see her, 

as soon as we get her home. We will send the chauffeur 

35 



up for her. It will only be a few minutes. Girls run 
out to get blankets. 

MRS. ROBSON {standing over Mina) — Poor thing! We 
must nurse her carefully back to health. It is prob- 
ably lack of food and worriment of mind that have 
brought her to this condition. 

{Enter girls with Nankets and cover her over.) 

ROSALIA {kissing her) — Just for a little while, Mina dear. 

NITA — Goodbye, old scout. 
{Exit right.) 

After a few minutes Mina raises herself on elbow and 
peers about. 

MINA — Ha ! Mina was sharp that time — sharp. Doctor, 
live in house {rises), humph! Never! {Limps about.) 
Mina was sharp. Nita lose pill bottle {takes from 
pocket). How many Rod say kill? Four kill — one — 
two — three — four {swallows them). Mina in way. Re- 
turning of Rosalia all done — well done — Mina go to 
tent — lie quiet — {walks about, muttering) . Bye and bye 
good spirit come for poor Granny. He looks after all 
woods folks {limps to left eceit, waves hands feebly) : 
Goodbye, my bebes, forget old Mina — be happy. 

CURTAIN 
Act III 

Time — One month later. Evening. 

SCENE — Living room of Guardian of Kitadini Camp Fire. 
Table in center, with books, photo album and table lamp. 
Sofa on left. Chairs scattered about. Palm in jardiniere. 
Sofa pilloivs in abundance. 

Curtain rises on Nita and Rosalia. Rosalia reclines on 
sofa, with Camp Fire Manual and Nita sits by table with 
head resting on hand, looking very sad. Both girls in eve- 
ning dress. 

ROSALIA — Oh, Nita. This is interesting. It is mother's 
Camp Fire Manual. It tells all the honors the girls can 
win. Do you suppose the girls will ask us to join? 
There are a lot of honors here, we could get, under- 
standing nature and woodcraft so well. 
36 



NITA (gloomily) — They may ask you, but they won't ask 
me. I am nothing but a poor gypsy. I know that, and 
my place is in the kitchen, but your mother is too kind- 
hearted to let me stay there. 

ROSALIA (puts aside look and rises) — Nita, dear, I wish 
you would not talk that way. It really is not true and 
you have not been treated like that. Even Aunt Maria 
is in love with your merry ways. If it was not for this 
little odd streak, when you get so blue and touchy, we 
would all be so much happier. Why is it, Nita? (Grosses 
to her and puts her hand on her shoulder.) Aren't you 
contented here? Do you wish for the old wild days and 
Rod? Is your heart with the tribe? 

NITA — No, no, Rosalia. I would not go back to that life 
for anything, but I do not want to get too fond of this 
life of ease and luxury and then not make good. I will 
work and study hard. It does not come as easily to 
me, as it does to you, dear. The real truth is I am 
afraid the girls won't like me or want me to associate 
with them and that would break my heart and I should 
just get ugly and hate them all. 

ROSALIA — We have not seen very much of any of the girls, 
except Vivian and Viola. Of course, we have been al- 
most in mourning for poor Mina and then the girls 
realized that mother must have some time to recover 
from the shock of having me restored to her and every- 
thing, but I feel sure that no right-minded girls lay 
such a chance occurrence as birth up against anyone. 
Why, anyone of us might have been born a gypsy. 
Don't cross bridges until you get to them, Nita, and be 
your own lovely self, so full of life and bright as those 
dear little scarlet berries we used to color our lips with. 
Do you remember, Nita. 

NITA (passionately) — I shall never forget. We were real 
pals then, just like Viv and Vi, and if anyone ever 
comes between us, girl or boy, I will run away and kill 
myself. 

ROSALIA— Never fear that, Nita. Will you try to be 
happy and cheerful, dear, for mother has been through 
so much, the past month, that I want her to have every- 

37 



thing beautiful, here in this dear home. I know you 
sorrow for Granny. I do, too, but I realize as mother 
says, that she would have hated this life and if she 
lived, would haTe suffered much. Why, just think, she 
never would go into winter quarters with us and never 
slept in a real bed in her life. She would have stifled 
and died among us. She could not have returned to 
the tribe for Rod would have beaten her to death. 
Wasn't it all for the best? 

NITA {rising) — I know something you do not know, Rosalia ; 
it worries me terribly. You know, that day I — I — I — 
lost Granny's pill bottle. I had hardly thought of it 
since, so much happened, but today, when I was folding 
away her old skirt, the bottle dropped out of the pocket. 
(Seizing Rosalia's arm excitedly.) Rosalia, there was 
only one pill in that bottle. {Throws herself on sofa.) 
Granny did not die of heart failure. She killed herself 
that we might live unashamed. {Sods passionately.) 

ROSALIA {crossing to her, and soothing her) — Steady, little 
comrade, steady. Mother and I knew all the time. The 
doctor told mother that night, but we kept it from you. 
I think it was splendid that you were the means of 
helping her to so painlessly give herself to the Great 
Spirit. Who knows what she might not have done in 
her poor maddened state. Come, Nita, you told me once 
that a gypsy did not cry. Sit up and dry your eyes 
for the girls are coming for our first party and I want 
you to look as pretty as a poppy. 

NITA (sitting up, drying her eyes) — Does your mother think 
it was careless of me to lose the pills and does she blame 
me for stealing them from Rod? Does she think I am 
Granny's murderess? 

ROSALIA — Most certainly not. She feels as I do and says 
you saved Granny everything unpleasant and it was 
merely a quiet going to sleep. Nita, we will ne\;er 
speak of this again. It only saddens us. We must be 
brave and bright, particularly tonight, for everyone is 
bound to be jolly and we must not spoil the party. 
Our first, but not our last. Come, is it a bargain? 
38 



NITA {with quick change) — I will be the gayest of all 
(jumps to her feet). I will try to forget Granny and 
be bappy. She would want us to be. I will try 
to get rid of my ugly thoughts and not be jealous of you 
or mourn for her or anything. I think Margarita is a 
dear. Don't you, Rosalia? 

ROSALIA — Yes, she is a lovely child, but I am going to train 
her a little. She is wilful and has had her own way 
too much. She is not going to make mother ery. She 
did the other day, she was so saucy. She treats Aunt 
Maria scandalously. I love her, but I see her faults 
and she is going to do different. 

NITA — You can do anything, fairy princess, and I already 
see Margarita a model child. 

ROSALIA (laughing) — I don't hope for that result or want 
it either, for that matter. Mother asked us to look at 
the dining table and see if we could make any sugges- 
tions. You must sit beside me, Nita, for we will both 
feel a little strange. 

NITA — I have been dreading it all day, but now that the 
time is so near I can hardly wait for the girls to come. 
(Exit left.) 

Enter Mrs. Rohson and Aunt Maria. 

MRS. ROB SON — What a change in this house, Maria. Every- 
thing is changed and everybody, and you most of all. 
I thought you really hated young folks and felt so 
sorry for you at first, but you will never be able to 
fool me again, Maria. 

AUNT MARIA — I have never been so happy in my life as 
since I put on my rose colored glasses of "Seek Beauty 
and Give Service," Mary. Why, even Margarita seems 
charming to me now, and I must say there were times 
when I was pretty near hating Margarita. 

MRS. ROB SON (laughing)— Well, I don't much blame 
you, for she is a very impertinent, aggravating creature, 
but I hope so much from Rosalia. She worships her 
and tries to imitate her in everything. 

AUNT MARIA — I am so glad you are going to call Rosalia 
by her gypsy name. Rose Is such a foolish name.. I 
39 



can't see how Harry ever called her tliat. He was so 
practical. 
MRS. ROB SON — Not where the babies and I were con- 
cerned and she came to us in the month of roses. How we 

wish he could have lived to see his first born back in 
her rightful place. He would have wished her to bear 
her gypsy name, for really old Mina gave our daughter 
all she has known of love and care and at the last made 
the supreme sacrifice. Surely it is fitting she should 
be called Rosalia. 

AUNT MARIA— Have you thought that Nita was a bit 
homesick? When I gave her the new dress today she 
had such a far-away look in her eeys and the tears 
were just ready to fall. 

MRS. ROB SON — Nita is passing through a difficult change 
in her mode of living. We must remember she was 
born a gypsy and we must not confine her too closely. 
She needs the touch of Mother Nature and all her chil- 
dren, the birds, flowers and little animals, that she has 
loved always. The stories she tells me of her life in 
the woods and field is most interesting and she will 
make a valuable addition to our Camp Fire. Have pa- 
tience with her. She will repay all your loving kind- 
ness some day. 

Enter Margarita in her dancing dress. 

MARGARITA— Mother, come quick. I let Dick out of his 
cage so he could fly over the table and see those pretty 
roses you put on the trellis. Jerry walked right in and 
began chasing Dick and it is the peachiest chase you 
ever saw. Dick don't stop flying a minute and Jerry 
is right on top of the table. 

MRS. ROBSON— Rita, how could you? 

AUNT MARIA— I'd like to spank that child. She keeps us 
all upset all the time. 

Both start out— enter Rosalia and Nita. 

NITA — It is all right, Mrs. Robson ; I put Dick back in his 
cage. No harm is done, except to the tablecloth and 
Sarah is changing that. 

(Margarita swinging Rosalia's hands) 

MARGARITA— Wasn't it loads of fun, Rosalia? Didn't 

40 



Jerry jump high? Most as high as your head. 

ROSALIA (coldly, pulling hands aivay) — You are a naughty 
girl, Margarita, and if I was your mother instead of 
your sister, you would go to bed tonight minus the 
party and the ice-cream. Come, Nita. 

NITA — And if you were a little girl in our tribe, you would 
get a good horsewhip round your little fat legs. 
{Exit left Rosalia and Nita.) 

MARGARITA — Mother, did you hear what Rosalia said and 
Nita. I wish they had stayed with the gypsies. They 
make me sick. 

{Mrs. Rol)son hides face and turns away. Margarita 
clings to her.) 

MARGARITA — No, mother, I did not mean that. Honest! 
I will be good. I love the girls. I will try to be better. 
Mother, cross my heart {does so). 

MRS. ROB SON — I will look for immediate improvement, 
Margarita. Show me you mean what you say, by being 
a good girl tonight at the party. 

AUNT MARIA — Run out, now, and help Sarah fix the 
table. {Exit Margarita left.) A good beginning, Mary, 
I was afraid you were going to let her wheedle you. I 
am going out now, and give Jerry his supper. Doubt- 
less he will be disappointed at losing Dick. He would 
ha\e made him such a dainty morsel. {Exit Aunt Maria 
left.) 

MRS. ROBSON {rising) — I believe I will go upstairs and 
look up that book of games. The girls may want them 
after lunch. {Exit right.) 

Enter Margarita, left, ivalks across stage. Stops in center. 

MARGARITA {counting lumps of sugar in handkerchief) — • 
Five, they will never miss them. I certainly got them 
easy. Cook is a muttonhead, anyway. That was such 
an easy place to hide them. Gee ! I've got to look out 
for Rosalia. She has got my number, as the boys say. 
I want her to like me, for by and by she may have a 
beau, and he may have a machine and I may want to 
go riding with them, now and then. Think of all the 
candy that Ralph Pousland has given Helen the past 
mouth. Why her sister Grace has just grown fat on 
41 



candy. He gives Grace some every time lie wants to 
see Helen alone. I could vs^ork that, too. 
(Exit right.) 

Enter Gmnp Fire Girls, in evening dresses, with wraps, etc. 
Hoo-oooo — Mrs. Robson ! 

MRS. ROBSGN {from upstairs) — Yes, girls, is that you? 
Just put your wraps in the hall. I'll be down soon. 
The girls have gone out in the garden. Make your- 
selves at home. 

{Girls go hack and forth, carrying wraps into hall, 
etc. Seat themselves ahout. Some on chair arms, some 
on pillow on floor, etc.) 

JEANE'TTE — I am just crazy to see the girls again. Isn't 
it just like a story, girls? 

RACHEL — Yes, it is, and I suppose because one story of 
yours turned out so gorgeously, we will have to listen 
to your stories for the rest of our life. 

BESS— I think I like Nita the b-b-best. 

SUSAN — Well, I can't see how you can tell, for we have 
none of us seen them except riding in the machine. 

VIVIAN — Well, they are both dandy girls and you will say 
so when you know them. Won't they, Vi? 

VIOLA — Sure, Jakey, but I do believe I am a wee bit par- 
tial to my little black-eyed gal just the same. 

VIVIAN — Well, the girls will soon have a chance to judge 
for themselves. 

ELEANOR — Is it true that you are going to ask both the 
girls to join the camp fire? 

VIVIAN — Yes, it is. Anyone got anything to g?ay against it? 

PERSIS — My brother says he shouldn't think we would 
want a gypsy to belong to our camp fire. 

VIVIAN (ivarmly) — You can tell your brother to go hang. 

HELEN— I think Ralph is just right. 

RACHEL — Laws ! Course you do. . 

VIOLA — Well, here it is, girls. One black mark can keep a 
girl out. One marked ballot. Let's vote (passes bal- 
lots) and see if there is any girl in Kitadini Camp Fire 
mean spirited enough to keep a good respectable girl 
from enjoying the privileges of our Camp Fire whether 
she be an Esquimaux or a gypsy. 

42 



{Girls whisper together and prepare ballots atf^ 
Vivian collects them.) 

VIVIAN — A triumph for the teachings of our good Guardian 
and for the honor of Kitadini Camp Fire. 
{Enter Rosalia and Nita from left.) 

VIVIAN — Girls, here are our new Camp Fire sisters. Nita 
Stone and Rosalia Robson. 
{Girls cheer madly.) 

VIOLA — Now, girls, recite together, the Wood-gatherer's 
desire so they may know they are one of us. 

{Girls all stand and repeat the Desire, found in 
Gamp Fire Manual.) 

NITA {excitedly) — You are the greatest bunch of girls I 
e\ er saw. I do not know you all by name yet, but I can 
guess which is which because Viv and Vi have talked 
so much about you. This one is Bess, and this is Jeau- 
ette. I can bring something to Camp Fire because I 
can make dandy baskets and fine camp-beds from 
branches. Can't I, Rosalia? 

ROSALIA^ — ^Yes, Nita makes wonderful beds. Not a branch 
out of place to poke in the back in the middle of the 
night, the way mine always do when I place the 
branches. I can tell you all about the stars and flow- 
ers, for they have been my constant companions for 
years, rnd I can tell you many stories I have learned 
around our camp fire from the old women of the tribe. 

VIOLA — Girls, won't they make camping this September 
just one long dream of golden bliss? 

JEANETTE? — Do you like to read, Rosalia, and go to the 
movies ? 

ROSALIA — I like to read, but I have never been to the 
movies. The men would not let us go into town in the 
evening. 

RACHAEL— Gosh ! Think of that, girls. Never been to the 
movies. 

PERSIS — I may as well tell you now that my big brother 
asks the whole Camp Fire to be his guests tomorrow 
night at the monies. We are to see Mary Pickford in 
"Johanna Enlists." He has asked a lot of the boys to 

43 



go, too, but if it is too warm we will go up on the lake 
instead. 

HELEN— I sure do love that boy. 

PAULINE — So do we all just about now, I guess. 

Enter Mrs. Rohson. Right. 

MRS. ROBSON— What is all the excitement. I thought 
something very secret was going on from what I could 
hear from upstairs. 

VIVIAN' — Oh, no, Oneida. First, we were voting Nita and 
Rosalia into Camp Fire and every one wanted them. 

MRS. ROB SON — Of course they were wanted. It would 
not have been Kitadini Camp Fire if they had not been. 

VIOLA — Then we were repeating the Desire and then Per- 
sis told us that Ralph had made up a movie party for 
tomorrow night. 

PER SIS — And you and Margarita are to go, too, Oneida. 

MRS. ROBSON— I should like to go and if Rita behaves 
well tonight she may go, too. Here comes she and 
Aunt Maria, now. 

PERSIS (hastily) — And Aunt Maria, too. Ralph didn't 
say her because he thinks she is still a crank, but we 
girls know her better now, and we want her. 

MRS. ROBSON (laughing) —All right, Persis, I will pre- 
vail upon her to come and if Nita is one, of the party 
Aunt Maria will surely be there, for I never saw a more 
violent case of love at first sight. 

Enter Maria and Margarita. Right. 

AUNT MARIA — Evening, girls. Mary, I want you to see 
Margarita's work. I have given her a lesson in knit- 
ting. She picks it up wonderfully quick. Show mother, 
dear, those last three rows she did herself. (Ejoamine 
knitting and Persis goes and whispers to her ahout the 
movie invitation, ichile girls chatter and look at photo 
album. ) 

BESS — Tills seems like old times. Only 1-1-1-lots better. 
Having the girls here. 

MRS. ROBSON — We owe a great deal to our two detectives, 
Viv and Vi. They both of them displayed cleverness and 
courage. Poor little Viv declares she was frightened to 
death at times, but we all know that if Viola was, she 
would never admit it to anyone. 
44 



VIOLA — Didn't we have fun that morning in the wood, Viv, 
with Nita and Rosalia. I really wished a dozen times 
I was really a boy. Nita was so lively and saucy. I 
am sure she would ha\e been my affinity {sighs). 

VIVIAN — Just the way I felt. I looked at Rosalia's pretty 
throat and planned where I would plant a sweet kiss, 
if I were really her lover. {Crosses to Rosalia.) But 
I am going to keep my affinity just the same. {Puts 
her arms ahout her.) Nobody could love her better than 
I do already. 

{Nita looks anxious hut Viola crosses to Nita and 
puts arm ahout her.) 

VIOLA — Well, said. Pal, I shall keep my sweetheart, too. 

MRS. ROBSON— Well, girls, what a winter we shall have. 
It will take all our good common sense to balance those 
four. They will certainly make a great quartette to 
entertain us and I feel sure our adventures will double. 

AUNT MARIA^ — Mary, can't we have a little music? The 
girls will love to hear Rosalia sing and Nita can dance 
like an — an — an acrobat. 

MRS. ROBSON — Not just now, Maria, for after lunch we 
are going to have a real stunt party. We have just 
about time before Sarah calls us, for Margarita to do 
her little dance she is getting ready for the ball. She 
has been coaxing to dance for us all day and she will 
have to go to bed directly after lunch. 

MARGARITA {springing to her feet) — May I, mother? 
Dance, I mean. Not go to bed. I hate that, but course 
if I am going to the pictures tomorrow night I'll have 
to go to bed early tonight. Here, Maria, old sport, catch 
the knitting {throws it to Aunt Maria). You can finish 
it. It makes my hands ache. Start the music, mother. 
{Dances, after the girls have cleared a space for 
her.) 

At close, they applaud. Mrs. Rohson goes to door at left 
and says — 
Come, girls, lunch is served. 

MARGARITA — Me first, hooray— (rws 7? es for door). 

AUNT MARIA {restraining her) — No, you don't^ young 
lady. You are going to be good and go out with me 
45 



and sit beside me and behave yourself. 
{Girls exit left.) 
ROSALIA — Or else you won't get any ice cream, Rita. 
NITA— Or candy, Rita. 

{Exit Aunt Maria and Margarita, left. Rosalia and 
Nita folloio slowly, arms ahout each other. Stop in 
center, stage.) 
ROSALIA — Nita, what do you think, now. Are the Camp 

Fire Girls all right. Are you happy? 
NITA {dramatically) — I am so happy, it hurts. I am too 
happy to eat. I know I cannot swallow. It surely was 
a great day for us when Granny, bless her, planned 
THE RETURNING OF ROSALIA. 
( Walk out, as curtain falls. ) 

End of Act III. 



46 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 




016 103 228 1 # 



